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Science center brings virtual thrills to life
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NINGBO is hosting its first VR experience pavilion in the Ningbo Science Exploration Center this month.
Ningbo has long been a hotbed for China’s nascent VR industry, and the ongoing event comes as experts and equipment makers across the city see a bright future for related technologies in fields ranging from real estate to medicine.
According to Miya Bao, the center’s marketing chief, VR technologies are different from 3D or 4D films in that they allow people to experience the sensations of actually being in another place.
“Ningbo has been ahead of the curve in the VR market, with many people understanding and participating in VR and even developing VR technologies, such as professors at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China,” said Bao.
The experience pavilion allows visitors to don the HTC Vive, a head-mounted display. There are a number of activities, adventures and technologies guests can experience. Admission fees range from 30 yuan (US$4.50) to 80 yuan, depending on the number of experiences guests opt to partake in.
“Since VR technology has a limited induction zone, the experience room can not be oversized, and should be less than about 21 square meters,” introduced Bao.
Two adventure experiences — “Rope Bridge Over Jokuls” and “To Rescue Kitten on High-Rise” — were developed by Ningbo Science Exploration Center independently. The first experience simulates crossing a bridge suspended 8,000 meters in the air, complete with the wind racing past. Meanwhile, in “Rescue Kitten,” participants are asked to walk across an elevated board to grab an imperilled feline. Both experiences are meant to recreate what it’s actually like to be suspended above the ground.
“We designed and developed the two adventure programs by ourselves, and the other items were purchased through downloading software. Many VR programs are available in the market now, especially recreational games. VR is a big market, especially as more fields, like real estate, get involved,” Bao said.
There are also a host of more traditional games that utilize joysticks and handles attached to head-mounted VR displays. With this equipment, visitors can go on a simulated undersea adventure where they’ll meet sharks and whales, paint in three-dimensional space, or slice up fruit in virtual space. They can also find a whole new level of immersion in first-person shooting with one counter strike-style game.
Meanwhile, there is a special VR Theater Room, where visitors will feel like they are entering scenes in a movie. People can look around, change their viewpoints and take in a complete panoramic view. There’s also a moving egg-shaped VR chair where people can simulate all the thrills of amusement park rides like roller-coasters and gyro-swings.
Bao said VR technologies allow people to fully immerse themselves in games and other experiences. She hopes more people can come to the center this summer to experience VR for themselves.
Conversely, some professionals see the immersive nature of VR as a potential drawback. Among them is Yan Jing from Hua Tai United Securities.
“You need to be blindfolded to experience VR. This means you need to detach from the real world, so the technology cannot be used anytime, anywhere,” said Yan at a VR industry summit last month.
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